Multiple-break circuit interrupter



July 14, 1925. 1,545,785

J. N. MAHQNEY MULTIPLE BREAK CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER Filed Feb. 16, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet l fiver 170?".

Patented .luly 14, 1925.- I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH N. MAHONEY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB, BY IESNE ASSIGN- IENTS, TO COEN'DIT ELECTRICAL. MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

MULTIPLE-BREAK CIRCUIT INTEBRUPTER.

Application filed February 16, 1921. Serial no. 445,500.

To all-whom it may concern: e proportion. The sub-divisions of the I Be it known that I, JOSEPH N. Manomzr, circult-interruptin arc admits of a more a citizen of the United States, residing at effective action of the oil to quench the Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State are and con uently the circuit-interruptof New York, have invented an Improveing capacity 0 the switch may beenhaneed.

ment in Multiple-Break Circuit Interrup- -A switch embodying the invention may 0 ters, of which the following isa specification. comprise two stationary switch-members This' invention relates to electric switches comprising the opposite poles of the switch andhas particular reference to oil immersed and a main movable switch-member ada ted switches adapted to control circuits of relato bridge the stationary switch-mem rs tively high potential and current; and has and conduct the major portion of the cur- 65 for its objectto im rove the current-interrent where the switch is closed, as is comrupting capacity 0 a switch of the type mon practice. The switch also may have set forth. one or a plurality of insulated stationary The current-interrupting capacity of an conducting members, each having two electric switch has considerable dependence spaced contact-portions and a plurality of upon the speed at which an efiective insulatauxiliary switch or bridging members moving gap is interposed'between the stationary able with the main bridging member and and movable switch-members and, in 'genadapted to connect the stationary conductera], the shorter the time required to intering members in series with the stationary pose such an insulating gap, the greater switch-members and shunt the main bridg- 5 will be the current-interrupting capacity of ing-member. For a quadruple break arthe switch. 7 I rangement there may be one stationary In a switch of the more or lesscommon insulated conducting member and two comprising two stationary switchmovable auxiliary switch or bridging memmembers and a movable switch or bridgin bers; and for a sextuple break arrangement member the speed at which the. aforesaid there may be two conducting members and gap is made depends mainly upon the speed three auxiliary bridging members; and so of the bridging-member towards open posion. Two separate arcs will be drawn at tion and a relatively great extent of movethe point of contact of any two auxiliary mentis necessary to interpose a gap o'feifecbridging members and a common conduct- 86 tive length. mg member.

The specific object of this invention is A further object is generally to improve I to provide a switch with means to interthe construction and operation of an Oll pose an efi'ective arc-quenching gap be- Immersed electric switch. tween the stationary and movable switch- Fig. 1 is a vertical sect-ion of a switch members at a rate considerably greater than embodying my invention. the rate of movement of the movable switch- Fig. 2 is a plan section along line 2-2 7 member toward open position; and. also to of F 1. l

interpose a gap of relativel long effective Fig. 3 is a detail of a main and auxiliary, length with a relatively short.- extent of contact member. movement of the movable switch-member. Fi 4 is a detail of a modified form of r I accomplish this invention by providing auxi any contact members. means whereb preferabl simultaneously Fig. 5 is a lan section of a sextuple to interrupt the circuit tween the two break switch em ing my invention. stationary switch-members comprising the Fig. 6 is vertica sectional detail along 0 posite poles of the switch at a plurality line 6-6 of Fig. 5. v 0 points u n a movement of the movable Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating u switch-mem r to open position. With the relation between the switch components this arrangement the efl'e'ctive s d of the of the switch of Fig. 5. movable switch-member is mu tiplied by A quadruple break electric switch emthe number of circuit-interruption points bodying my invention is illustrated in Figs.

in series and the circuit-interrupting '1 and 2 and includes the switch frame 10 capacity of the switch may 'be increased in and the oil receptacle 11 removably secured thereto. An insulatin switch operating rod 12 is vertically mova ly extended throu b said frame into the receptacle and bears t e main'movable switch member, comprising a conducting bar 13, at its lower end. Main stationary switch members, comprising the brush members 14, are disposed on opposite sides of said operating rod above the movable switch member and extend angularly bear two stationary auxiliary contact members; and each of said main stationary switch members also may hear an auxiliary contact member The auxiliary contact members may each include a base 20 having the arms 21 rising therefrom. 'A contact finger 22 is pivoted on a screw 23 between said arms and is :io'rmed with a reflexed end-portion 22 bare it.

adapted to engage with an auxiliary movable switch member hereinaiter -to be described. A spring 24 encircling said screw 23 and engaging the-base and finger tends normally to move the finger into a nearly vertical position as indicated said linger is also formed with the shoulder portion 22 adapted to engage the base to limit its spring-actuated movement.

The auxiliary movable switch members comprise the conducting strips 25 secured at the ends of an insulating bar 26 secured to the main switch member and to the operating rod 12. Each of said strips 25 is adapted to extend from a main stationary switch member to said insulated plate and the ends thereof are reflexed to form contact portions 25 adapted to engage with the contact fingers carried by said stationary switch members and plate.

When the switch is closed the current is carried mainlyby the bar 13 and brush mem- When the switch is tripped the movable switch members move downward and the main movable switch member separates from the main stationary switch mem-. bers. The contact fingers 22 rotate about their pivots in contact with the auxiliary movable switch members 25 to maintain the circuit closed. here are suificient-ly separated the contact fin ers will be in some osition as indicated in iig. 3. A further ownward movement of the movable switch members causes the separation of the auxiliary stationary and movable switch members'and the practically simultaneous formation of four arcs in series at the stationary contact members. As the in Fig. 3; and.

en the main switch memincense four arcs are so separated that the oil may act independently on each and as the movable switch members are moving-at a rapid rate when the arcs are drawn the arcs willbe rapidly extinguished and the circuit 1nterrupted.

Theqauxiliary stationary members herein shown have particular merit by reason of the sliding and they make with bers and also because they follow the movement of the movable switch members downward and break the circuit'only when the main contact members are separated and when the movable switch member is moving at a rapid rate.

Fig. 4 illustrates a modified form ofauxiliary switch member, wherein the auxiliary stationary switch members comprise the nuts 30 fixed on the ends of the rods 15. 'The lower face 30 of said nuts is adapted to be engaged by the contact members 31 removably secured on the ends of the flexible strips herein 32 secured to the insulatin bar 26. The flexibility of said strips hereln serves the purpose of the rotatable contact fingers 22. A flexible braid 33 may connect the two contact members 31- of each flexible strip 32 and conduct the major part of the current therebetween.

Fig. 5 illustrates a sextuple break electric switchembod ing the invention. In this modification t ere are two insulated stationary conducting members 18 and three auxiliary movable switch-members secured to the insulating strip 26 which are carried by the movable switch-member. Said,auxiliary movable switch-member and stationary conducting members are arranged in alternate relation so that the current 1s 1 adapted to pass from one pole of the switch through all of said members in series to the opposite pole of the switch. With this arrangement there will be six points of circuitinterruptlon in series instead of four as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2; and with the same self-cleaning contact which the auxiliary switch mem ion speed of movement of the movable switchmember the current-interrupting capacity of the switch may be increased in the who of six to -four. the length of the insulating ga between the stationary and movable switc -members is increased in the same ratio so that the voltage at rupted may be increased by the same ratio.

The construction above set forth admits of a symmetrical and uniform spacin between the arcing points whereby a uni orm switching action. may be obtained.

The constructions herein shown and described are intended merely to illustrate certain embodiments of the invention and it is'obvious that the invention may be embodied invarious concrete forms without departing from the spirit thereof.

It will be observed also that l which the current can be interseries between the main I claim: I

1. An electric switch having'two stationary main switch-members, a main movable switch-member arranged directly to bridge said stationary switch members and means including a plurality of auxiliary movable and stationary switch-members arranged to finally break the circuit through the switch simultaneously at a plurality of points greater in number than that provided by said main movable switch member.

2. An electric switch having two stationary main switch-members, a main movable switch member arranged directly to bridge said stationary switch members, and auxiliary stationary and movable switch-members arranged to provide a plurality of circuit'interrup'tion-points greater in number than that provided by said main movable switch member and in series between the main stationary switch-members after the main switch-members have separated.

3. An electric switch having two stationary switch-members, amain movable switch member arranged directly to bridge said stationary switch members and provide two points of circuit interruption therebetween, and means including auxiliary stationary and movable switch members arranged to provide four circuit interruption points in stationary switchmembers after the main switch members have separated.

4:. An electric switch comprising two stationary switch members, an insulated stationary member, auxiliary movable switch members arranged electrically to connect said stationary switch members through said insulated member, anda main movable switch member arranged electrically to connect said stationary switch members directly and exclude said insu ber.

5. An electric switch comprising two stationary switch members, an insulated stationary conducting member, auxiliary movable switch members arranged independently electrically to connect said stationary switch members with said conducting member, and a main movable switch member ar ranged electrically to connect .said'stationary switch members directly and exclude said insulated stationary member. 6. An electric switch comprising two stationary switch members, a main movable switch member arranged electrically to connect said stationary switch members directly, aninsulated conducting member, and auxiliary movable switch members arranged independently electrically to connect said main stationary'switch members with said conducting member. 7

7. An electric switch comprising two stationary switch members, a main movable switch member arranged electrically to conductin ated stationary mem- 1 bridge said stationary switch members directly, an insulated conducting member, and two auxiliary movable switch members arranged independently electrically to connect said stationary switch members with said member.

8. An e ectric switch comprising two stationary switch members, a main movable switch member adapted to bridge said stationary switch members directly, an insulated conducting plate and two auxiliary movable switch members insulated from said main switchmember arranged electrically to connect said stationary switch members through said insulated plate.

9. An electric switch comprising two stationary switch members, an insulated conducting plate, a main movable switch member adapted to bridge said stationary switch menibers directly and two auxiliary switch members movable with and insulated from said main movable switch member arranged independently electrically to connect said stationary switch members with said plate.

10. An electric switch comprising a frame, two stationary switch members carried by and depending therefrom, an insulated-conducting plate carried by and depending from said frame, a switch rod movably disposed between said switch members and plate, and a main movable switch member and two auxiliary movable switch members insulated from said main movable switch member and arranged independently electrically to connect said stationary switch members with said plate.

11. An electric switch comprising a frame, two stationary switch members carried by and depending therefrom, a conducting member, an insulator supporting said member from said frame, a switch rod movably disposed between said conducting member and stationary switch members, a main. movable switch member carried by said rod and two auxiliary movable switch members carried by said rod and insulated from said main movable switch member and arranged independently electrically to connect said stationary switch members with said conducting member.

12. An electric switch comprising a frame, two stationary switch members carried by and depending therefrom, an insulatin pillar carried by and depending from said rame, a conducting member carried on the end of said pillar, a switch rod, a main movable switch member carried by said rod arranged to bridge said stationary switch members, and two auxiliary switch members carried by said rod and insulated from said main movable switch member, arranged independently electrically to connect said stationary switch members and conducting member.

13. An electric switch having two stationary switch members, a main movable bridg ing member, a plurality of stationary insulated conducting members each having two contact-portions, a plurality of auxiliary movable bridging members insulated from each other and from the main bridging member arrangedto connect said stationary conducting members in series with said sta- I to bridge said stationary switch members constituting the opposite poles of the switch I: I andexclude said auxiliary stationary switch member.

15. An electric switch having two stationary switch members constituting opposite oles of the switch, means including an auxiliary stationary switch-member and a plu rality of vertically movable switch-meme bers arranged to be connected in series with each other and with said stationary switch members, and a vertically movable bridging member arranged directly to bridge said stationary switch members constituting the opposite poles of the switch and exclude said auxiliary stationary switch member.

16. An electric switch having two stationary switch members constituting opposite oles of the switch, means including an auxiliary stationary switch-member and a plurality of conjointly vertically-movable switch-members arranged to be connected in series with each other and with said stationary switch-members, and a bridging member movable with said movable switch members arranged directly to bridge said two stationary switch members constituting the opposite poles of the switch and exclude said auxiliary stationary switch member.

17. An electric switch comprising two stationary switch members, an insulated conducting plate, two movable switch members arranged independently electrically to connect said stationary switch members with said plate, and a bridging member adapted to connect said stationary switch members directly and exclude said conducting plate.

18. An electric switch comprising a frame, two stationary switch members carried by and depending from said frame, an insulated conducting plate carried by and depending from said frame, a switch rod movably disposed between said switch members and plate and two insulatedmovable switch members carried by said rod ar ranged independently electrically to connect said stationary switch-members with said plate.

19. An electric switch comprising a frame, two stationary switch-members carried by and depending from said frame, a conducting member, an insulating support for said member depending from said frame,

a switch rod movably disposed between said means toconducting member and stationary switch members, and two movable switch members shunt said auxiliary circuit and having means to provide but two points of circuit interruption in series, and said auxiliary circuit having means to provide more than two points of circuit interruption in series, said auxiliary circuit arranged to be interrupted last. v

'21. An electric switch having a main circuit through it provided with means for interrupting it, and an auxiliary circuit arranged in shunt with the maincircuit and provided with means for interrupting the auxiliary circuit at a greatervnumber of serially-arranged points than said main circuit. a

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JQSEPH N, QNEY. 

